From blooming flowers to longer days, the signs of spring are all around us; and the extra sunshine and warmer weather inspire many people to hop off the couch and give the house a good refreshing.
If you count yourself among that group, take this year’s spring cleaning to the next level by combining it with a little energy efficiency work.
Putting these to-dos together is easier than you may think.
Your cleaning list will already have you working in parts of your home that may need a little attention from an energy-saving perspective. So taking care of it there and then can be as easy as adding just an extra step or two to your cleaning routine, which takes less time and effort than starting from zero down the road.
Also, thinking about your home through that frame of mind will help you be aware of issues that may require extra attention from yourself or a service expert in the near future. If something does need to be replaced or repaired, you can schedule to have it done when the weather is mild.
While you’re dusting and washing walls and windows, pay special attention to the caulk around doors and window frames. If you see any that’s cracking or peeling, scrape it out, clean the surface and replace it. Caulk is cheap, easy to install and lasts for years.
While you’re near the exterior doors, check the weather stripping for damage or any gaps. Over time it can wear down, become loose or be torn up by pets. If yours isn’t in top shape, remove it and replace it.
While you’re vacuuming and sweeping, pull your refrigerator and freezer away from the wall and clean the coils. The fridge uses about 15 percent of your home’s electric bill, but it’ll use even more if the coils are covered in dust and pet fur.
Check the conditions of the exhaust fans around your home and their filters – if they have them. Those fans are critical to your indoor air quality, but built up dust and debris can reduce their efficiency. If yours are looking rough, clean them. If they do have filters, as many kitchen exhaust fans do, inspect them and replace them as necessary.
While you’re up there, look for any gaps between the fixture and the sheetrock. If you spot some, fill them with caulk to stop air leaks. Alone, one leaky fixture doesn’t account for much heat loss, but collectively they can be a substantial drag on your home’s energy efficiency.
While you’re fixated on fixtures, take an inventory of your light bulbs. Count the number of burned out or incandescent lights around your home and make a plan to replace them with LEDs. LEDs use about a fifth of the energy of incandescent bulbs and last many years longer.
If you’re still using compact fluorescent bulbs around the home, you’ve got an efficient product, but you could still save energy by switching to LEDs.
Next, head down to your HVAC system and replace the filters on your furnace. If you have a ductless heat pump, clean the head unit’s screens and replace the filters – if it has them. Spring is a good time of year to schedule a technician to inspect your home climate system. They may have more flexibility in their schedules and you won’t have to endure the extreme seasonal temperatures if your system has to be offline or any period of time.
Last but not least, if you’ve had covers on your foundation vents, remove them and throw them in the garbage. Those covers don’t help keep your home warm, the insulation beneath your floor does. Crawl spaces need ventilation all year long. Covers only trap moisture where it’s not supposed to be.
Energy Adviser is produced by Clark Public Utilities and relies on the expertise of utility energy counselors and staff, who provide conservation and energy use information. To contact us call 360-992-3355, email ecod@clarkpud.com or visit www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
